True Blue Conversations - Andy Steele - Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment Veteran Part 2
Description
On today's podcast, I speak with Australian special forces 2nd Commando Regiment
veteran Andy Steele. Andy had a decorated career that included deployments to
East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and also serving in the domestic counterterrorism
team.
Andy joined the army at the age of 17. Andy marched into 4RAR in 2000, he went on
selection at 17.5, making him one of the youngest to successfully pass the
Commando selection and reinforcement cycle. During this conversation, we discuss
the impact of being the team commander during the tragic live fire training incident of
Mason Edwards that still weighs heavily on Andy. We spoke of the loss of one of
Andy’s close friends, the late Cameron Baird VC MG. Andy was on the ground in
2008 when Jason Marks was killed, a day Andy said he was lucky to survive himself.
For more about that day, go back and listen to episode 81, Jordan McCallum, and
episode 100, Craig Hamburgers recollection of that day. After Andy discharged from
the Army, he went contracting in Afghanistan and around the world.
Andy talks about how faith has helped him find peace and purpose after service,
This is a raw, honest powerful two-part episode. A true story of resilience and
redemption.
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Andy Steele
Editor: Kyle Watkins